Albuquerque car rentals

Top tips for renting a car in Albuquerque

• Driving in Albuquerque is the most convenient and effective way of getting to know the city, as all the major interest points are sprawled out. While you may prefer to walk in the Old Town area, a car is a must when exploring the rest of the city. Drive along the iconic Route 66 (or Central Ave), which cuts through the downtown area all the way to the university area. A car is also the perfect option for those looking to explore other destinations outside the city such as the Sandia Peak, which is located in the Sandia Mountains area, less than 20 miles from Albuquerque. New Mexico's capital, Santa Fe, is also a short hour’s ride away from Albuquerque.
• All the big car hire agencies, including Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz, can be found at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)'s Car hire Center. There is a free shuttle bus service between the airport terminal building and the Car Rental Center, with shuttles departing every 5 minutes or so from the lane outside the first level of the terminal building. The shuttle service is handicap accessible.
• Fender benders happen quite often in Albuquerque, so watch out for reckless drivers. The weather gets pretty rough in the winter, which means you must be extra careful when driving during this season as accidents often happen due to strong winds, snow, or black ice that has formed. The roads are also quite dark at night, so extra caution is required when night driving.
• Although traffic is manageable in certain parts of the city, roads are all usually fairly busy throughout Albuquerque during peak hours -- so avoid rush hour traffic both in the morning (between 6 and 10 a.m.) and afternoon (between 3 and 7 p.m.). The worst commutes are for drivers heading to Albuquerque/East Albuquerque in the morning, and exiting that area in the afternoon. Traffic heading from the Rio Rancho area to East Albuquerque also tends to get congested during peak hours.
• Book your rental car in Albuquerque at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price